Tempur-Pedic® Complaints

Leading memory foam brands have been known to have a few issues including off-gassing, sleeping hot, difficult to move on, and being over priced. Amerisleep offers memory foam mattresses without these common flaws.

Mattresses are a very personal purchase, and because every body literally has different needs, no one type or brand will suit everyone. Even expensive luxury mattress brands don’t evade this reality.

Tempur-Pedic®, one of the leading memory foam mattress brands, positions itself as "the most highly recommended bed in America", but it is not without flaws. The company has achieved success as an industry leader by developing a brand based on quality and a luxury image. But, the millions spent on advertising haven’t made the brand immune to complaints. Here, we will examine four of the most common issues consumers report with the brand and how Tempur-Pedic® complaints compare to other types of memory foam.

Top Tempur-Pedic® Complaints

Reading through reviews and online reports, there were four issues which appeared to be most common among owners. While the beds generally receive good marks for comfort, motion isolation, and durability, the top Tempur-Pedic® complaints focused on issues with odor, ease of movement, heat, and cost.

Tempur-Pedic® Beds Smell

About 1 in 5 owners complain of an initial odor with Tempur-Pedic® beds. This odor is attributed to off gassing, which is the term used to describe the emission of chemical-based odors from common household materials. These odors occur as volatile chemicals break down, and usually level off after 1 to 4 weeks. While Tempur-Pedic® claims their beds are free of harmful chemicals, the strong odor can cause unpleasant reactions for sensitive people, with reports of headaches, nausea, and respiratory discomfort. Many owners expect the chemical odor, but a small portion of reviewers, it is enough to return the bed.

Odor Complaint Rate ComparisonPercent of reviewers that mention odor as a major issue.

Tempur-Pedic®

Amerisleep

iComfort® by Serta®

Generic Memory Foam

18-20%

2.6%

6-10%

15%

Percentages based on data collected from reviews on Amerisleep.com, Tempurpedic.com and Serta.com.

Hard to Move On

All memory foam beds provide a different feel from spring beds. While springs cause pressure points and alignment problems, they do provide extra “bounce.” Memory foam, especially models with denser material or thick plush layers, can require more effort to move on. Tempur-Pedic® uses dense foam in most models, and their material has a slow-response rate which means it takes the foam awhile to adjust to the sleeper’s movements. These factors, combined with temperature sensitivity, result in an above-average complaint rate, with people reporting difficulty moving or the feeling of being “stuck in a hole.”

Percentages based on data collected from reviews on Amerisleep.com, Tempurpedic.com and Serta.com.

Tempur-Pedic® Sleeps Hot

Nothing kills a great night of sleep like being hot; in fact sleep studies indicate that cooler environments do actually encourage better sleep. This is one of the most redundant issues mentioned in Tempur-Pedic® reviews, with people describing the beds as “heat traps” and mentioning nights of uncomfortable sleep and increased sweating. When sweating becomes excessive, this creates additional problems like mold growth which a small portion of reviewers mention.

Overall, about 10-15% of reviews specifically mention heat as a downside. This rate increases on models with thicker layers and denser memory foam (TEMPUR® and TEMPUR-HD®). The newer Breeze lines developed to combat the issue do not appear to fare much better in this regard.

Percentages based on data collected from reviews on Amerisleep.com, Tempurpedic.com and Serta.com.

Too Expensive

The price of a product is always an important consideration for buyers.mat Most people have budgets to consider, and no one wants to get a bad deal. Because of the brand’s positioning as luxury mattress line, it is no surprise that Tempur-Pedic® complaints often mention price. On average, Tempur-Pedic® beds are anywhere from 20-75% higher than other brands, even those whose beds have similar technical specifications. Overall, about 1 in 4 reviewers mention value or price as a negative, meaning that the amount paid may not live up to expectations or comparable options.

Price ComparisonPrice can vary significantly with mattresses. The numbers below represent the cost for a 12” memory foam mattress in queen size, before promotions and taxes.

Tempur-Pedic® TEMPUR-Rhapsody

Amerisleep Revere Bed

Serta®iComfort® Prodigy

Generic Memory Foam

$3199

$1299

$1774

$1000-2000

Prices based on data collected from Amerisleep.com, Tempurpedic.com and Serta.com.

Why Tempur-Pedic® Complaints Are Important

With any major purchase, it is important to understand the pros and cons of the available options. Reviews and complaints offer valuable information for consumers in this regard. While comfort is subjective, reviews help by highlighting trends and providing an additional way to compare brands. The most common issues in which Tempur-Pedic® underperforms relative to other options include heat, odor, cost, and ease of movement. While affecting 25% or less of buyers, it is important to be aware Tempur-Pedic® complaints and to check reviews when making buying decisions.